Music Nov 15, 2019
Da Pump, Arashi, Twice among lineup for 70th 'Kohaku Uta Gassen' music show
by Kalynn Erickson
Alongside perennials will be acts making their first appearances on the music battle show, such as Foorin, King Gnu and Kis-My-Ft2
Music | 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW Nov 15, 2019
Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan
by Patrick St. Michel
Do you know the songs? "Heavy Rotation," "Gingham Check," "Ponytail to Shushu" .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
Film Jun 26, 2019
Kiyoshi Kurosawa: Filming and acting outside your comfort zone
by Mark Schilling
When Japanese directors of a certain age and status film abroad, they usually head for developed countries, not developing ones. Although, to be fair, their choice of foreign locales often comes down to box-office calculations. Japanese audiences enjoy seeing famous European sites on the ...
Film / Reviews Jun 12, 2019
'To the Ends of the Earth': Tough times for travel reporting
by Mark Schilling
Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Atsuko Maeda make an odd couple: The former is best known abroad as a master of horror, starting with his 1997 international breakthrough "Cure," while the latter was a star of idol-pop group AKB48, but has since gone on to a ...
Music | Sound Off May 30, 2019
Rino Sashihara: Can one 'idol' beat the system?
by Patrick St. Michel
An idol group such as AKB48 is designed for members to be easily replaced. The performers existing in these environments constantly get shuffled around and eventually "graduate" — a term used for when they leave. Fans might become attached to a specific member and ...
National / Crime & Legal May 21, 2019
Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill member of AKB48 spin-off group
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill a member of a sister group of the popular AKB48 girl band, police said. Kazuki Domoto was arrested Monday for threatening Yuka Ogino, a member of NGT48 based in the city of Niigata, by ...
Entertainment News May 2, 2019
Ex-AKB48 idol Minami Takahashi gets married on Day One of Japan's Reiwa Era
Singer and TV personality Minami Takahashi, a former member of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, ushered in the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and the Reiwa Era by getting married on Wednesday, her agency said. "I decided to move forward with a new family at the ...
Music | Sound Off Apr 4, 2019
A look at some of Japan's lesser-known idol-pop players
by Christopher Kunody
I made my first trip to Japan just over 10 years ago to see concerts by Morning Musume and AKB48, two of the country's biggest idol-pop groups this century. What struck me most about the experience was the camaraderie among the fans, it was ...
Entertainment News Mar 14, 2019
All-female idol group AKB48 to forgo annual popularity contest
All-female idol group AKB48 will not hold its annual popularity contest this year, which has drawn huge crowds over the past 10 years, management agency AKS said Wednesday. The group has held its Senbatsu General Election since 2009 for fans to pick winners to perform ...
Entertainment News Mar 4, 2019
Atsuko Maeda, an original member of all-girl pop group AKB48, has given birth to a baby boy, her first child, her husband said Monday. "I'd like to report that a baby boy was safely born the other day," 32-year-old actor Ryo Katsuji, Maeda's husband, posted ...
Entertainment News Dec 15, 2018
Popular HKT48 idol Rino Sashihara announces plans to leave next year
Pop idol Rino Sashihara, a popular member of AKB48 affiliate HKT48, said Saturday she will leave the sister group next year after a graduation concert in April. "I, Rino Sashihara, will graduate from HKT48," the teary entertainer said during a concert in Tokyo, according to ...
National / History | Defining the Heisei Era Nov 24, 2018
Defining the Heisei Era: Examining the rise of otaku culture
by Alex Martin
With the number of children shrinking, popular entertainment naturally began targeting the otaku population that didn't hesitate to open their wallets for material many considered juvenile.